Net closes on killers of Birmingham businessman Keith Murrain as new CCTV footage comes to light

Josephine Murrain mother of murdered business man Keith Murrain with her other son Trevor

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But the investigation has been cranked up considerably in recent weeks, the Sunday Mercury has learned.

Officers have informed the father-of-three’s family that they have now latched onto a cyber-trail of mobile phone calls. Superintendent Michael Phipps, now in charge of the case, confirmed yesterday that officers are studying “scientific evidence”.

“It is wrong for people to harm other people, but it is life and life can be cruel.”

The days since Mr Murrain’s death have not been kind to his mother Josephine, born and raised in the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat.

The 85-year-old will forever be haunted by that chilling midnight call, informing her of Keith’s death.

“Keith was one of the best people you could meet,” she said. “Sometimes we would talk for two or three hours on the phone. He was exceptional and kind.

“I can’t sleep at night. I still ask myself ‘Is Keith coming back to me?’. I still cannot believe it.

“He was my son, a friend and a gentleman.”

Josephine added: “His funeral was so big that they had to close a shopping centre down. Everybody said it was the biggest funeral of its kind.”

Mr Murrain’s funeral certainly brought Lozells to a standstill. More than 2,500 mourners gathered in, or at, The New Testament Church of God.

Following that three-hour service, which included an emotional rendition of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song, the white coffin was taken by horse-drawn carriage to Witton Cemetery.

Fighting back tears, brother Samuel told the congregation: “I don’t think I will ever be able to forgive the people who did this.

“They have destroyed our family. They have taken him away from his children, brothers, sisters, mother, cousins.

“He was the link holding the chain together. Now we are broken.”

The family believe that the grisly crime is intrinsically linked with Mr Murrain’s business interests on the islands.

He had spent four years building up KRM Machinery, which sent tractor parts and plant machinery to the West Indies.

Josephine says his decision to fly to the paradise island was a last minute one, explaining: “He said he had to go over there because he did not like what was going on.”

The Sunday Mercury has learned that Mr Murrain’s second home – in the exclusive, gated Caribbean Estates Community, dubbed a cluster of dwellings with Fort Knox security – was teetering on the point of repossession when the murder took place.

At the Birmingham inquest into the murder, the family publicly urged Mr Murrain’s business partner, Leroy “Randy” Thompson, to contact them with any information he had.

He was behind the wheel of the hire car when the three killers struck on the parched, ochre-red road out of Kingston.

At the time of the crime, officers stated Mr Murrain was pounced on after stepping out of the vehicle to answer the call of nature. He was dragged, terrified, to a waiting car. Mr Thompson was left sprawled in the dust.

In an interview from his Jamaican home, Mr Thompson said: “I want these killers caught. They have ruined my life, too.”

Birmingham barrister Howard Reid, a close friend of the murdered man, struggled to contain his rage after we spoke to him days after the killing.

“Whoever did this are scum, filth, savages and I hate them,” he said. “I curse them, I really, really do.

“The savagery, the lack of humanity, the coldness. To look a man in the eye and cut his throat. I really do hate them.

“This has torn a hole in all our lives.

“My heart has been destroyed. We love him – that is not exaggeration, it is not hyperbole.

“He was an intelligent and charming man. He showed kindness to everyone, he loved his mother and father.

“We would sit at a table and eat and laugh. He had a razor-sharp wit. He liked a bit of football and table tennis. He also liked world history and world politics.

“What has happened is beyond comprehension, o have him killed, then thrown away like rubbish.”

The Murrains are being helped in their quest for justice by community activist Desmond Jaddoo, who has brought the case to the attention of Prime Minister David Cameron.

He believes there is finally room for optimism.

“For the Murrains, it seemed as if no-one cared about Keith’s life,” Mr Jaddoo said. “That has been a big issue. No-one seemed to care. No-one seemed to be bothered.

“Many accused the Murrain family of making Jamaica look bad. I would contend that the initial lack of co-ordination and co-operative response by the authorities is what made Jamaica look bad. The quest for answers continues with a more optimistic view as the Jamaican Authorities have confirmed they are now following solid lines of inquiry.

“There is optimism in the air because of this transparency.”

In the spirit of that transparency, Supt Phipps confirmed an arrest was made on May 21. He also revealed that officers involved in the case were also investigating suspected fraud.

Supt Phipps said he understood the family’s frustration, but stressed: “Things are now moving speedily.”

The Murrain family will host a memorial event on Friday June 26, at the Heartlands Social Club, Nechells, to mark the first anniversary of his death.